Package and method of wrapping



Sept. 8, 1942.

M. J. MILMOE ET AL PACKAGE AND METHOD OF WRAPPING Filed April 4, 1938 INZENTORS Mnchael J.M\L moe and Edmcnd A.-S\eber-'t A @010! mm ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 1 942 s x PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE AND METHOD OF WRAPPING Michael J. Milmoc,

Siebert, Chicago, Ill.,

ington Co, Chicago, llnois Glen Ellyn, and Edmond A.

assignors to F. B. Red- Ill., a corporation of Il- Application April 4, 1938, Serial No. 199,790

. 5 Claims. (01. 229-51) This inventionrelates to packages in general andparticularly to a wrapper for packages. More specifically the invention relates to a wrapper for cigarette'packages and the method of wrapping the packages. 7

Many attempts have been made to wrap cigarettes in a wrapper which will prevent the cigarettes from coming in contact with the air and thereby becoming stale, as well as for protecting the package against moisture loss or absorption. The disadvantage in most conventional wrapped cigarette packages lies in the end where the flaps are folded as the wrapper does not grant sufficient protection; The lapped ends do not provide an air tight, moisture proof package and, therefore, do not protect the cigarettes against moisture loss and against absorption. One method heretofore employed is ,by providing a double wrapper, the bottom of the wrapper being sealed and then after the wrapper is applied, a second wrapper is applied oppositely-so that the open flaps will cover the sealed flaps.v This arrangement, however, is extremely expensive and while it may overcome some of thedisadvantages inherent in other conventional packages, the .time

consumed in applying the double wrapper makes such a procedure practically prohibitive. Too, the ultimate purchaser encounters some difliculty in removing the wrappers.

The primary object-of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages inherent in the present method of packaging by providing a single cigarette package wrapper made of suitable moisture proof material, such as transparent cellulose sheet or the like; by theprovision of end members to which the end folds are positively and securely attached, thereby providing a wrapper capable of protecting the'contents against moisture loss or absorption, as well as providing strengthening of the seams and folds.

A further object of the invention is the provision of. sheets of cellulosic material of .a size substantially equal to the size of the ends of the package whereby the'end folds may be folded against the inserted end members, the folds being secured to the end members securely and tightly by the use of a proper adhesive or solvent,

whereby a unitary package having double strength and tight, moisture proof endsis provided.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a method of wrapping packages by placing end members at the ends of the package and folding the wrapper which extends in tubular form beyond the edges of the package a sufof the same material as flcient distance to permit end folds to be formed, the end folds then being secured together and to the end members whereby a relatively inexpensive, air tight and moisture proof package having reinforcing at the ends is provided.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and readily operable means for positioning the end members with respect to ,the wrapper, which means insures the accurate positioning of the members, and also reinforces and strengthens the wrapper side seam, thus aiding in the formation of a moisture proof wrapper Another'object of the invention is to provide in a package of thetypestated, improved means for effecting the opening thereof.

Numerous other objects and advantages will beapparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wrapper having an opening tape and end members attached thereto, and incorporating the principles of the invention in accordance with one preferred and selected embodiment, the parts being shown prior to application to a package to be wrapped.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views showing successive steps in wrapping the package, when employing a wrapper construction as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the wrapper l, preferably comprises a sheet of q moisture proof material, such as transparent cellulose or, the like. This sheet has an opening member, specifically in the form of a strip or tape I9 applied thereto, the tape extending a predetermined distance beyond the edge of the wrapper-to provide an opening. tab I8. The wrapper l is slit, as indicated at 16, a predetermined distance inwardly of its edge on each side of the tape 19, to permit the wrapper to be easily torn when the tab 18 is pulled. The wrapper 1 and the method of applying the opening tape I9 thereto, as Well as the formation of the opening tab, may be in accordance with the'disclosure made in eopending application, Serial No. 197,700, filed March 23, 1938, now issued as Patent No. 2,265,609, dated December 9, 1941. and

assigned to applicants assignee.

An elongated strip 13 of material is adhesively secured along one edge of the wrapper I. This strip, which may preferably be of cellulose and that of the wrapper, is

provided with extensions 14 and 15 in the underlying the wrapper end folds and to which the folds are adapted to be adhesively secured. The strip 13 is provided with-slits as indicated at II, on either side of the opening tape 19, for a purpose similar to that, of the slits "and to facilitatethe tearing of the strip 13 as the opening member 19 is pulled, Preferably the opening tape is adhesively secured to the strip II as well as to the wrapper.

projecting jbeyond the wrapper edges, and adapted completed package to form end members in forming the package, the wrapper is first Y applied and folded about the package or article to be wrapped, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that the strip 13 lies longitudinally of the package against one side thereof. The wrapper, being of a width greater than the length of the package, extends beyond the ends of the package, thus providingupper and lower tubular end extensions. The projections 14 and I5 of the strip '13, being of greater length, extend further distances away from the package ends. It is to be understood that these projections 14 and I5 are of such size that when folded down onto the ends of the package they are substantially commensu- 1 rate in size therewith.

The edge 3 of the wrapper is then folded into position, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the projections H and 15 are folded onto the ends of the package. As the projection 15 is folded onto the. package end, the side tuck, as indicated at 22, is simultaneously formed. The side tuck 23 is then folded in place, after which the folds or 24 and 25 are successively folded into position as shown in Fig. 4. It is to be understood that similar operations are effected at both ends of the package. The folding is so conducted that the tab 18 will extend outwardly from the package, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

. In forming the package it is to be understood that all parts brought into overlying relation are adhesively secured together whereby to form a moisture proof and air proof package enclosure.

Thus the wrapper portion 3 is adhesively secured to the parts of the wrapper against which it is brought into overlying engagement. Similarly, the endmembers or projections 14 and I5, and the flaps 22, 23 and 24 are in each instance adhesively secured to the successively overlying part. In actual practice it has been found that a material commercially known as Methyl-Cellosolve works advantageously. This material tends to dissolve the moisture proof coating on .the cellulosic material, or at least to make-it somewhat plastic so that when the engaged surfacesare mitted to dry, the surfaces will bind together in a homogeneous mass. The end member for each package end has suflicient solvent applied thereto so as to bind the side tucks 22 and 23, and the side tucks and end member also bind the flap 24, the latter cooperating to in turn bind the outermost or overlying flap 25.

With this arrangement a double moisture proof seal is provided, the adhesive bond between the end members and the tucks and flaps providing one seal, and the adhesive bond between the tucks and flaps themselves providing a second seal. The end closure thus providesla moisture proof, air tight package, protecting the enclosed cause the tearing both of the the wrapper ends and seams, while still using a minimum amount of wrapp material.

The package can be easily and readily opened by merely pulling upon the tab 18 which will wrapper I and the strip 13, the slits 16 and the slits I1 facilitating the initial tearing of the parts.

The projections H and 15 provide end closure members and in addition facilitate the tion in that they form a part of strip 13 which is adhesively secured to the wrapper and are thus in fixed position during the folding operations. Accordingly the members 14 and 15 will be automatically brought into proper position upon the package ends and held in proper position as they are folded into engagement with the package. As previously stated, the projections H and 15 will be moved into end closure position simultaneously with the formation of side tuck 22. extends along of the strip 13, for the package, packaging 'operaseam is formed, reinforces and strengthens the seam and aids ,in the formation of a moisture proof seal.

The invention provides a package which protects against. moistureioss of the contents or absorption, provides a relatively strong package having reinforced seams at the ends, and permits easy opening of the package. The improved ,wrapper can be made relatively inexpensively, at

brought together and perarticle against loss, as well as protecting the 'mercial wrappers which now functions, such as the double a considerable reduction in cost over such comperform the same ly described, and is considerably more efllcient than the conventional type of wrapper;

Changes may 'be made in the form,'construc tion and arrangement of the parts and the method may :be varied without make all such changes as fairly fall scopeof the following clairns.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows: 1. A package comprising a sheet of wrapping material arranged about an article forming awrapper, said wrapper having opposed free edges sealed together forming a tubular body receiving the article and enclosing all four sides of the article, the tubular body extending a predetermined distance beyond each end of the article, a strip of material adhesively secured to one of the edges of the wrapper, said strip being provided with end pieces extending beyond the ends of the tubular wrapper .body, and adhesive material on said end pieces whereby as said end pieces are folded onto the ends of thearticle and the'tubul-ar end of the wrapper folded onto said end pieces, a moisture proof package end closure will be formed.

2. A package as, set forth in claim 1 wherein said end pieces are of substantially the same size and shape as the article ends and wherein an opening member is adhesively secured to the wrapper and to the strip to .fa'cilitatethe tearing thereof.

' 3. A package comprising a sheet of wrapping material arranged about an article forming a wrapper, saidwrapper'having opposed free edges sealed together forming a tubular body receiving the article and enclosing all four sides of the article, the tubular body extending a predeterstrip of material arranged longitudinally of the wrapper and provided with end pieces extending Additionally, the-strip 13 which that side of the package at which wrapping previousdeparting from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, andthe right is hereby reserved to within the i beilond the ends or the tubular wrapper body,

5. A package as set forth in claim 3, wherein an opening member is adhesively secured to the inner face of the wrapper and to the innerface of the longitudinal portion of the strip and transversely thereof to facilitate the tearing of the strip and the wrapper peripherally of :the package.

- MICHAEL J. 'MILMOE.

EDMOND A. "SIEBERL- 

